We all learn early on that “avoir” means “to have” in French — j’ai un chat, nous avons une voiture, and so on. But did you know there are many different ways to say “have,” “has,” or “had” depending on the structure or expression you’re using?
In this lesson, we’ll explore some common (and less obvious) ways the idea of “having” shows up in French, from past tenses to useful expressions and sentence patterns that don’t always follow the English logic. Let’s take a closer look and expand how you use this essential verb! You can download a PDF of this lesson guide in my private French Grammar Library.
Here’s a list of ways to say have, has, had in French:
She has a big apartment. She had a big apartment. | AVOIR Elle a un grand appartement. Elle avait un grand appartement. |
I have to finish my homework. I had to finish my homework. | DEVOIR / FALLOIR Je dois finir mes devoirs. J’ai dû finir mes devoirs. il faut que + subjunctive Il faut que je finisse mes devoirs. |
He is having an adventure in Mexico. He had an adventure in Mexico. He had had an adventure in Mexico. | VIVRE Il vit une aventure au Mexique. Il a vécu une aventure au Mexique. Il avait vécu une aventure au Mexique. |
I am having a coffee and a croissant. I had a coffee and a croissant. I had had a coffee and a croissant. | PRENDRE Je prends un café et un croissant. J’ai pris un café et un croissant. J’avais pris un café et un croissant. |
We have been waiting for hours. We had been waiting for hours. | ATTENDRE Nous attendons depuis des heures. Nous attendions depuis des heures. |
You are having your car repaired. You had your car repaired. You had had your car repaired. | FAIRE RÉPARER Tu fais réparer ta voiture. Tu as fait réparer ta voiture. Tu avais fait réparer ta voiture. |
I will not have you talk to me that way. | LAISSER Je ne te laisserai pas me parler comme ça. permettre de + infinitive Je ne te permettrai pas de me parler comme ça. |
Family legend has it that my grandmother fed all of the neighborhood cats. | VOULOIR QUE + SUBJUNCTIVE La légende familiale veut que ma grand-mère ait nourri tous les chats du quartier. |
We are having people over tomorrow evening. We had people over last night. We had had people over. | RECEVOIR Nous recevons du monde demain soir. Nous avons reçu du monde hier soir. Nous avions reçu du monde. |
She is going to have her baby tomorrow. She had her baby yesterday. | ACCOUCHER Elle va accoucher demain. Elle a accouché hier. |
My sister told me that she and her husband are planning to have a baby. My sister told me that she and her husband had planned to have a baby. | AVOIR Ma sœur m’a dit que son mari et elle prévoient d’avoir un bébé (un enfant). Ma sœur m’a dit que son mari et elle avaient prévu d’avoir un bébé (un enfant). |
I am having a great time! I had a great time. | S’AMUSER Je m’amuse bien! Je me suis bien amusé(e)! |
We have to have a discussion about your birthday meal. We had to have a discussion about your birthday meal. | DEVOIR DISCUTER DE Nous devons discuter de ton repas d’anniversaire. DEVOIR PARLER DE Nous devons parler de ton repas d’anniversaire. AVOIR UNE DISCUSSION Nous devons avoir une discussion à propos de ton repas d’anniversaire. Nous avons dû…Il a fallu que nous… |
Do you want to have a drink? We had a drink. | PRENDRE Tu veux prendre un verre? Nous avons pris un verre. |
| He will have his meals with us. He had to have his meals with us. | PRENDRE Il prendra ses repas avec nous. Il a dû prendre ses repas avec nous. Il a fallu qu’il prenne ses repas avec nous. |
Have a good day! We had a good day! | PASSER Passez une bonne journée! Nous avons passé une bonne journée. |
Have a safe trip! Did you have a good trip? | FAIRE Faites bon voyage! Avez-vous fait bon voyage? |
Let me have a look. | VOIR / REGARDER Laisse-moi voir / regarder. |
I had a look at it. | JETER UN OEIL J’y ai jeté un œil. |
She has just arrived. She had just arrived. | VENIR DE + INFINITIVE Elle vient d’arriver. Elle venait d’arriver. |
